Theives target ATMs in Encinitas

ENCINITAS  A foiled ATM theft was followed up by a successful one a couple miles away in Encinitas Sunday morning, a sheriff’s official said.

A ringing alarm alerted deputies to the first attempted theft at the Walgreens on Encinitas Boulevard about 3:30 a.m., sheriff’s Lt. Dave Schaller said.

Deputies found the store’s front door smashed and skid marks where the thieves had unsuccessfully tried to haul away a bolted down ATM, Schaller said.

The second theft wasn’t reported until about 6:15 a.m. by an employee at a Chevron gas station, but deputies suspect it also took place around 3:30 a.m.

The gas station’s front door was also smashed, but this time the ATM was gone, Schaller said.

The thieves cut the power at both locations before committing the crimes, Schaller said. The time stamp from shut down surveillance video at the gas station shows the power going out about 3:30 a.m., he said.

It is suspected the Walgreens alarm runs on a backup system, and wasn’t affected by the cut power.